Dixon studies wastewater plant options

The Dixon community remains divided about the solution to the city's wastewater issue.

Some are still unconvinced that there's a problem at all.

Yet only a few questions were asked during Monday's special meeting of the City Council, a three-hour workshop on wastewater and the status of a cease-and-desist order facing Dixon.

In 2008, the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Central Valley Region handed down the order and detailed 12 tasks that must be completed before Jan. 1, 2014, to keep Dixon's wastewater treatment plant operating.

A handful are not yet done and time is now of the essence.

In past years, the council, with input from the city's wastewater committee, considered various options but decided to hold off on any action before hearing the board's latest communication, which came recently.

Two options are being discussed -- building either a $13 million dollar aerated pond that would take care of some of the problem or a $24 million dollar activated sludge plant said to meet more of the mandated standards. Wastewater rates would increase with both -- an estimated $14 a month for the pond or $24 a month for the sludge plant.

The best, most cost-effective project would be the activated sludge plant, according to consultants, citing factors such as a smaller footprint with less evaporation, being easily adaptable for future treatment needs and minimized algae growth with enhanced percolation.

Resident Russ Cayler, who sat on the wastewater committee, said members had come to that conclusion awhile back and the time to act is now.

"If we do nothing, we'll just be kicking the can down the road," he advised. "For the money, this gives us the option to do more things. ... I favor the doggone thing. We've looked at it before, conditions have not changed."

Resident Drew Graska concurred, saying the suggestion was made before but ignored by the council.

Former Councilman Mike Ceremello emphatically stated that the water board "is not looking at common- sense science." The treatment, he claimed, isn't needed.

"The actual problem is much bigger than Dixon," he said. "We need to do something that makes sense. The state needs to do something that makes sense."

No action was taken during the informational session. A second, and possibly a third, workshop, will be scheduled.